But at a rally in Rochester before Gillibrand's arrival Saturday, Cuomo made a point of telling the audience that he knew the junior senator well because one of her first jobs was as his special counsel at the Department of Housing and Urban Development during the Clinton administration.

"The one word that comes to mind when I'm thinking of Sen. Gillibrand is "big," Cuomo said. "That's it in one word. "She's a BIG senator with a BIG vision and a BIG heart and she makes a BIG effort, and when she comes here I want you to yell, 'You're BIG, Senator Gillibrand!' That's what I want you to do. And she'll know exactly what it means - trust me on that."

Most of the audience didn't get the joke. But Senator, that one was for you.

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